Event Dates & Times:
- Start Date:September 20, 7:00 pm
- End Date:September 22, 1:00 pm
- eventWizardUrl:https://www.starofthenorth.ca/register/browse/programs-2/event/calix-comes-to-canada-330/
Event Location Information:
- Location:3 A St Vital Ave, St. Albert, AB T8N 1K1, Canada
About The Event:
Calix Comes to Canada
The Calix Society is a 12-Step ministry for those in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and their affected family members and friends. The Calix Society was founded in 1947 for anyone who wants to live the 12 Step program fully and freely within the context of their Catholic faith. While open to all, this retreat will include praying the Divine Office, Adoration, the Eucharist, a Living Rosary, and opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Justin R. and + Sylvain L., assisted by veteran members Tom W., and Mike M. from the Arlington, Virginia Diocese, will form the team presenting this international hybrid retreat. Expect an experience that will be informative, formative and transformative.
Addiction Has No Boundaries
An International Retreat for Those in and around the 12 Step Program
ABOUT CALIX
The International Calix Society was founded in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1947 by a group of five men, led by Bill Montroy. All recovering alcoholics, they saw their faith as a sure path to serenity without alcohol. “Calix” is Latin for “chalice”, and these men accepted the idea that they were substituting “the cup that sanctifies for the cup that stupefies.”
After the society’s formal organization in 1949, growth was slow, but it came steadily and surely. In 1974, Pope Paul VI received 94 members of the society in a private audience at the Vatican. In welcoming the Calix pilgrims, the pontiff said: “We are happy to greet members of the Calix Society on the 25th anniversary of their foundation. As we welcome you to the See of St. Peter, we express our appreciation of your earnest commitment to working for the elimination of alcohol abuse, including alcoholism itself.”
Calix is basically a lay organization. It has been demonstrated time and again that the success of an affiliated unit depends almost entirely on the zeal of a priest-chaplain. The society is fortunate in the number of priests it finds who are willing to provide leadership and spiritual guidance so important to Calix members and units. Calix is self-supported through membership dues and contributions from grateful members.
Calix is unique in having both the afflicted and affected members in the same meetings. In 2019, the Calix Board of Directors voted to include drug addiction, in addition to alcohol, as now stated in the Calix Credo.
THE CALIX CREDO
‘Calix is an association of Catholic alcoholics, drug addicts, and family members and friends affected by addiction, who are maintaining their sobriety through participation in their Catholic faith and a 12 Step program.
Our first concern is to interest Catholics with these problems in the virtue of total abstinence. Our second stated purpose is to promote the spiritual development of our membership. Our gathering today is an effort in this direction. Our conversation and our association together should be a source of inspiration and encouragement to each other, geared to our growth toward spiritual maturity.
Our participation in all other spiritual activities of Calix, such as the frequent celebration of the Liturgy, reception of the Sacraments, personal prayer and meditation, Holy Hours, Days of Recollection and retreats, aids us in our third objective, namely, to strive for the sanctification of the whole personality of each member.
We welcome others who are not members of our Catholic faith, and anyone concerned with the illness of alcoholism and addiction who wish to join with us in prayer for our stated purposes.’
A newsletter is published by Calix called the Chalice. It is distributed and regular contact is maintained with units and members.
PRESENTERS
Justin R. has been an active member of the Recovery community for over 10 years. He had a spiritual awakening as a result of going through the program of an anonymous fellowship. After this spiritual awakening, he worked as an in-take worker for a detox/homeless shelter and was executive director and founder of a non-profit organization. He participated in many interventions and 12 step calls, as well as facilitated over 50 Big Book studies. He has sponsored over 30 people in the anonymous fellowships and was a keynote speaker for one of the fellowship’s conventions in the summer of 2023. Justin is grateful to be a recovered addict and even more grateful for the ability to be of service in any capacity in the recovery community.
Sylvain L. is a grateful member of W.A. (Workaholics Anonymous) which he helped start in Edmonton in 2015. Chaplain and spiritual director at the Star of the North Retreat House in St. Albert, AB, he has authored five books, two of them on addictions awareness, receives many Step 5’s, and has offered retreats and workshops on the 12 Step program locally and internationally.
Tom W. is a long-time member of A.A., with a deep love for the program and a great desire to be of service to anyone in need, especially in need of recovering from addiction. This retreat is the result of his connections with Mike M. of Calix in the US, and his initiative to get it started in Canada.
Mike M. has been a member of several Calix Units in the Northern Virginia area since October 2014, and is also an active member of Al-Anon. Service is an important aspect of Mike’s recovery. He has been a Group Rep for a mixed Al-Anon group and is currently the treasurer for a Men’s group. Mike is also an Alateen Group Sponsor for teens affected by someone’s addiction. Mike is a devout Catholic. While attending American University in Washington, DC, Mike completed an impactful semester study-abroad program in Jerusalem. Mike is the father of a son and three daughters.
REGISTRATION
Early Registration Ends September 1st
Early Online (via Zoom) …………… $85
Early Commuter ……………………… $165
(includes Saturday lunch & supper, Sunday lunch)
Early Live-In ………………………….. $335
(includes two-night stay and all weekend meals)
After September 1st
Online (via Zoom) …………… $135
Commuter ……………………… $215
(includes Saturday lunch & supper, Sunday lunch)
Live-In ………………………….. $385
(includes two-night stay and all weekend meals)
SCHEDULE Click here to view a detailed schedule Calix_Schedule